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USS Mount Whitney Remembers 9/11

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GAETA, Italy - The crew of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and embarked U.S. 6th Fleet staff attends morning colors on the flightdeck of the ship as part of a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Mount Whitney, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship and operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering, laundry and galley service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

GAETA, Italy - Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Derek Pitre, left, and Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Douglas Mellon, right, raise the national ensign during morning colors on the flightdeck of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20). The crew aboard Mount Whitney and embarked U.S. 6th Fleet staff attended morning colors as part of a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Mount Whitney, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship and operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering, laundry and galley service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

GAETA, Italy - Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Douglas Mellon, left, and Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Derek Pitre, right, prepare for morning colors on the flightdeck of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20). The crew aboard Mount Whitney and embarked U.S. 6th Fleet staff attended morning colors as part of a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Mount Whitney, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship and operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering, laundry and galley service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

September 11, 2012
MC3 Josh Bennett, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

GAETA, Italy – The crew of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and embarked U.S. 6th fleet staff gathered for a remembrance ceremony to honor those whose lives were lost during the terrorist attacks, Sept. 11.

The event opened with morning colors and was followed with remarks from Capt. Ted Williams, Mount Whitney’s commanding officer.

“We will always remember that clear morning,” said Williams. “It is a day we all remember where we were, what we were doing and how we felt.”

 Williams said 9/11 shaped the way the Navy has fought and trained during the subsequent campaign. He said it is important that Sailors learn from past events and use that knowledge in order to better prepare for the future.

“We must never forget that on this day, the enemy tried to weaken and break our great nation,” said Williams. “Instead, they strengthened our resolve.”

The crowd at the ceremony consisted of servicemembers, civil service mariners and civilians.  Many of the Sailors in the audience could remember their reaction to the events of 9/11. 

“I was only ten when it happened, but I can still remember the shock and devastation on my parents’ faces and my teachers had the same look on their faces when I got to school,” said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Ryan Lincicome.  “Even though I didn’t fully understand what was going on at the time, I could see the impact it was having on everyone around me.”

Before the ceremony concluded, Williams said more than 6,000 servicemembers have died since the attacks.

“It was then we knew we were under attack and it was then our lives changed forever,” said Williams. “We have dedicated our lives to ensure our nation is free and safe from attack.”

Mount Whitney, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship and operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering, laundry and galley service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

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